I pride myself on giving my pony the best of everything: a relaxed barn with ample turnout, regular bodywork, and exercises based on his needs and conditioning. He wants for nothing. As a certified equine sports massage therapist, I...
Trail riding is a favorite among many riders. Don't go out unprepared. Have the right trail riding tack and gear before you set out on the trail with some of the below items from Horse Illustrated's tack and gear column.Resistol Ridesafe...
The number of bits available are almost limitless. Most of us have a pretty hefty collection, and even then it’s just the tip of the iceberg. It can be a challenge to make a quick decision and pluck just...
You can ride western in a snaffle or curb bit, depending on what your horse goes best in.
Your saddle should fit your horse comfortably, not rubbing on his withers.
Western saddles typically have a simple cinch, but...
All horse people have it: piles of tack, blankets and other equine gear they don’t use, but aren’t quite sure what to do with for fear of needing it years (and horses!) down the road. It’s time to take...
By the middle of summer, your tack trunk or tack locker has probably become a bit of a mess—or, if you’re like most of us with lots to do and not enough time, a HUGE mess! It may seem...
Nothing makes me cringe more than seeing tack that was once nice lying in a dirty heap on the bottom of the tack room floor, piled high with dust and bits caked with dried hay and slobber. So, to...
Wet, humid conditions can lead to a tack room full of moldy saddles and bridles, not to mention saddle pads, blankets and wraps, as well.Moldy tack is not only an unsightly nuisance; because mold is a living organism, it...
Crocheted ear bonnets (also called “ear hoods”) first became
popular in the world of show jumping. Grand prix riders, competing on grass
fields during spring and summer, realized their horses were often distracted by
flies and gnats. It was disconcerting to gallop...
As the sport of show jumping has grown, certain items of
tack that once looked peculiar have become more familiar to the average
equestrian. Such is the case with the belly guard. At first glance the belly
guard looks like a shield...
